The Federal Government on Monday commenced another phase of mass trials for hundreds of suspected terrorists facing terrorism related charges in Abuja, with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, declaring that the administration would not treat terrorism with levity as the prosecution is being led by him while the Director General of the Legal Aid Council, Aliyu Abubakar, heads the defence team.
The trials are taking place simultaneously in several courtrooms before Justices Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Musa Liman, James Omotosho, Obiora Egwuatu, and Ekerete Akpan, and are expected to last one week, with at least 58 suspected terrorists who were listed for trial before Justice Nwite on Monday.
Fagbemi told journalists that this marks the fourth phase of terrorism trials under the administration, with more than 600 suspects to be tried during the current phase, including 490 on Monday and 84 on Tuesday, not including 102 carried forward from the previous phase.
Meanwhile, two suspects were convicted and sentenced on Monday after pleading guilty to terrorism related offences, with Justice Binta Nyako sentencing a 55-year-old farmer from Borno State, Ali Mustapha, to 15 years imprisonment for concealing information about Boko Haram activities, and sentencing Isa Isiaka, a father of 11 children, to 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine.
Also Read: Over 400 Terrorism Suspects Face Mass Trial in Abuja
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